*label boxing_journey_begins
Friday, 15 December 2023

11:30am. You sent the report to the client at eleven. You tab from Excel to Outlook to Word and to Excel again.

You join a few colleagues for lunch at Fairwood. It's too orange there. The Ah Wood curry chicken thuds onto the tray, then the iced lemon tea, and you carry it all to the table. The curry's fairly good. You stir your lemon tea for a long time, because someone said it makes the ice melt faster.

One meeting in the afternoon. You stay for overtime, for the free office dinner. You get the rice box tonight, half tomato sauce, half white sauce. Then home.

You lie on your fold-up bed, scrolling on your phone.

*page_break
Saturday, 6 January 2024

You're walking home from PARKnSHOP, a half-full cloth bag over your shoulder. One of the signs on your right: MK Fight Gym. You walk this way every day, but you've never noticed it before. The sign's shabby, old.

You slow down, then turn into the alley. Why?

*fake_choice
    #Because of your New Year's resolution.
        Because you made a New Year's resolution to get fit. Finally, this year, you'll succeed.

    #Because you recently read a boxing manga.
        You read a manga where a bullied high school student gets taken to a boxing gym. Corny. But it stayed with you.

One coach, a short, muscular guy in a faded T-shirt. Six others training, half on the mats, half on the bags.

"Have you boxed before?"

"No. Is there a trial?"

The coach nods. You drop your bag by the entrance, and he hands you a skipping rope. Three minutes later, you're breathing hard. He gives you a pair of old gloves. He shows you how to stand, side-on, hands up.

On the mats, you follow him, jabbing at the air. The gloves are too heavy. You can't get the punch to go straight. He shows you the cross and directs you to the heavy bag.

You punch with your left hand, then your right. The coach taps you and points at your feet. You turn side-on again. More punches. The heavy bag doesn't move at all. Your wrists hurt.

Near the end of the hour, a right punch finally goes straight, and the bag moves back a tiny amount.

Nice. You sign up for a month.

*page_break
Wednesday, 21 February 2024

You're finishing on the bags as one of the regulars packs up next to you. You get talking. She's been here for about a year. The gym's old, she says, but the coach is good. Then she stops zipping her gym bag.

"You ever fought?"

"No."

"Want to?"

An interclub, probably. Could be good to get some experience. You nod and give her your number, and she forwards you a contact.

"You get all kinds. Something new every month." She waves and heads for the door.

Back in your flat, you sit at the tiny desk and open the contact. You stare at it. Then you type. "Hi, I was given your contact regarding boxing matches. I am interested in participating."

Nothing. You shower, brush your teeth, come back out, and a message is waiting for you.

"Thank you for your message. Please inform us of the following: name, fighting experience, weight."

You answer.

*page_break
Friday, 1 March 2024

At your desk, your phone buzzes. "Opponent scheduled: Marco. 31st March. Kwun Tong Ferry Pier. Vs new entrant."

A few minutes later: "Please reply to confirm receipt."

You confirm.

*page_break End scene.
*return

*label unofficial_fight
*set fight_opponent_name "Marco"
Sunday, 31 March 2024

Your gym bag's slung over your shoulder. Wraps, gloves, shorts, shirt, mouthguard, headguard, water bottle, towel. The headguard pokes out of the top, and the water bottle sloshes with every step.

The evening sun is low over the harbour when you reach Kwun Tong Ferry Pier. A ferry is docking, a few passengers queued up to board. No sign of a fight. You step into the entrance: only turnstiles and a timetable. You back out and circle the building. At the back, where the shopfronts are all shuttered, an A-frame sign: "Unofficial Fighting Activities" in Times New Roman, and an arrow.

It's the old ferry waiting room, advertising posters fading, the windows at the far end grimy. There are maybe fifty people here, most on their phones. The hall smells of Calbee Pizza chips.

A rope circle is in the centre of the hall, far bigger than the mat area at MK Fight. Two middle-aged men sit at a folding table, "OFFICIAL" printed in large white letters across their black T-shirts.

"I'm here for a match against Marco."

The one on the left checks a clipboard. "Good. You're up next. Warm up and report to the referee." He points at a woman by the rope circle, "REFEREE" across her T-shirt.

"Is there a changing room?"

"Oh, there isn't one here. Go back to the other side and use the toilets there."

You jog round and change in a toilet stall, then hurry back. You go to the grimy windows, away from the crowd, and jog on the spot.

*page_break
A slight man, around your height, stands beside the referee, hands behind his back. He's wearing a "Keep Calm and Carry On" T-shirt, gym shorts, and white sneakers. You report to the referee.

"Welcome. Your opponent is Marco." She gestures at him.

Marco clears his throat. "My first time here. They said you're new, too."

"Yeah, me too." You hold out your hand, and Marco pumps it, five times, six times, seven. His hands go behind his back again.

You put on your gear: the wraps still damp from the washing machine, the mouthguard that doesn't quite sit properly, the too-large headguard. The gloves go on last. Marco pulls on a pair of MMA gloves. No headguard.

The referee turns to the hall. "Please welcome our new entrants."

Around two dozen people wander over. One calls out, "Don't worry, just do your best!"

Inside the rope circle, you face Marco, a couple of steps apart.

The referee steps out. "One round. Two minutes. Don't hurt yourselves."

An official taps the bell on the folding table.

*page_break
You raise your gloves and tuck your elbows in, like at MK Fight. Marco raises his too, elbows out.

Wait, the tap. You extend your lead hand halfway towards him. Marco pauses a moment, then taps it. He nods, takes a quick breath, and starts bouncing on the balls of his feet.

You wait. Marco lifts his lead knee and flicks a kick at your forearms. Light contact. The foot's down again.

*set fight_momentum 5
*gosub_scene utils show_fight_momentum
*temp already_attacked false

*choice
    #Throw a cautious jab.
        *set already_attacked true
        You throw out a jab. It comes out clean. Even a little snap to it.

        Your arm's fully extended, and it's still a foot short of Marco's head. Marco took a full step back as soon as you moved, and leaned away so much that he wobbled.

    #Throw a hard cross.
        *set already_attacked true
        You go for the cross, rear hand driving straight. You turn your hip. Slow, but the form's good.

        Your arm's fully extended, and it's still a foot short of Marco's head. Marco took a full step back as soon as you moved, and leaned away so much that he wobbled. The punch pulls you forward half a step before you can get your hands up again.

    #Keep waiting.
        You hang back. "Know your enemy and know yourself," they say.

        His knee comes up again, and this time his foot shoots out sideways. It thuds into your gloves and drives you back a step.

You reset. Marco edges in, steps out, comes in again, bouncing the whole time. A moving target. Not like the heavy bag.

Your hands stop shaking, and the chatter around the ring disappears. All you hear is your heartbeat, drumming against the headguard. Your calves and your thighs are coiled tight. You throw jabs. Marco throws front kicks. You throw the jab-cross in his general direction. He comes back with another front kick and then some other kick. You even throw the jab-cross-hook, all at empty air as Marco takes three steps back.

A roundhouse kick, swinging in at your head. Your gloves fly up, and his foot thwacks into them. And then a front kick that snaps into your chest. The air leaves your lungs, but the kick doesn't hurt, not yet. Marco steps back and stops bouncing. You step in with a jab-cross. He slaps the jab away. The cross grazes his cheek.

Marco touches his cheek with his glove. More people have wandered over.

*set fight_momentum -1
*gosub_scene utils show_fight_momentum

*choice
    #Keep jabbing.
        *set fight_momentum +1
        *set already_attacked true
        Speed is nothing without control. You turn more side-on — coach talked about that — and jab: head, body, head. Marco blocks them all, but each jab thuds into his forearms and knocks his guard around. You step in. He lifts his knee, but there's no room to kick.

    #Rush him with lots of punches.
        *set fight_momentum +1
        *set already_attacked true
        Too many kicks. But punch fast enough, and he'll have no time to kick. You step in, both fists pumping at his body. Technique, gone. Accuracy, lacking. Power, minimal. But it does the job. Marco's too busy slapping away your gloves to kick.

    #Cover up and let him come to you.
        *if (already_attacked)
            You hang back. "Know your enemy and know yourself," they say.

        *else
            You let him come.
        He lifts his knee again. A high roundhouse, coming from the other side this time. You duck. It swishes over you, somewhere above. Then Marco hops in on one leg and kicks twice with the other. Both kicks tickle your gloves.

Marco steps back. His shoulders heave, and his hands have dropped to his chest. Already?

Then you realise you're breathing just as hard. The gloves are too heavy. Your thighs burn.

The referee calls out, "Thirty seconds!"

It's only been thirty seconds? No. Thirty seconds left.

Sounds manageable.

*choice
    #Finish strong with a combination.
        Which will it be? Jab-cross-hook? Double jab-cross? Jab-cross-hook-cross? Any one of these will end it.

        None of them happen. Your mouth is dry. Not enough air. Your body only wants to throw the jab-cross. Soon, not even that. You just want your gloves in front of your face.
    #Go for one big punch.
        One big punch. That will settle it. You wind up your right arm for a haymaker and let loose.

        Marco is nowhere near the punch. You stumble past him and he tries a kick as you go. His sneaker pats you on the back.

        You turn around. Your mouth is dry. Not enough air.
        
    #Keep your guard up.
        Nothing fancy. You keep your guard up, firing off the occasional jab. Your mouth is dry. Not enough air.

        Marco kicks at nothing, and then he tries a jab. A punch! From Marco!

        You block it.

Marco stands there, panting, arms struggling to stay up. This is your chance. But your legs don't move.

No more.

The bell rings.

*page_break
The referee steps in between you and Marco. "Thank you both."

Then, to the crowd: "Please give our fighters a round of applause."

She doesn't raise anyone's hand, but the crowd claps. Someone cheers, "Great fight! You'll get there!"

The referee nods to the folding table. You take off your gloves and headguard. The official with the clipboard waves you over. "Please collect your prize here."

He hands you a glutinous rice chicken in a thin plastic bag and a Vita lemon tea carton. You run your fingers over the carton. There's only a nub of glue where the straw should be.

Marco gets the same, but with a chrysanthemum tea. You glance at his carton. The straw's there.

He smiles. "Good fight."

"Good fight, Marco."

You shake hands.

Then your body catches up. The sweat drying on your back, the ache in your thighs and calves, the knots in your shoulders. And the spot on your chest where Marco kicked you. It hurts now.

*page_break
Someone's already sweeping the rope circle. More spectators are arriving, nearly a hundred now. You ask the official where the showers are.

"No showers."

You leave, the chicken's lotus-leaf wrapping coming apart in its plastic bag.

*page_break
Back home, your clothes can't come off fast enough. The shower goes too hot, then the heater cuts off, and it's too cold, and too hot again, but you don't care. Your chest stings when the water hits it. Your arms are heavy as you wash your hair.

Tomorrow's Easter Monday. Then, work.

*page_break End scene.
*return

*label alternate_ending
*set fight_opponent_name "Stephanie"
*set stats_screen "alternate_ending_1"
Sunday, 31 December 2034

"Opponent scheduled: Stephanie. 31st December. Former Hong Kong Stadium."

You activate your tech-watch with a thought, and the familiar neon-green hologram materialises above your wrist. Power, Technique, Toughness, Mental: one hundred in each.

You think the hologram away and walk into the ruins. Sunset. The stadium lights died years ago. Weeds poke up through the concrete. The seats have been stripped. A wind picks up, and dust swirls across the arena. Your cape flutters.

No spectators, only camera drones, twelve of them. Too dangerous for humans. A regulation-sized boxing ring is in the centre of the arena, and you step into the red corner. Coach Lam joins you, and so do Eric, Katie, Danny, and Chloe.

Facing you is a tall woman with long silver hair, a glowing red eye and a metal arm. She's wearing a black bodysuit with cyan lines and silver heels at least four inches high.

"So. The Saviour of Hong Kong."

"Stephanie."

The cyber-referee, today a winged robot cat, hovers down between you. It declares in a mechanical voice: "Best two out of three. Ninety-nine seconds in each round."

Chin down, elbows in. Stephanie cracks her metal knuckles. "Your legend ends here."

The hovercat beeps. "Round one. Fight!"

It flies away and projects the round timer in glowing yellow numbers across the dead scoreboard: 99.

*page_break
You circle. Stephanie opens with a roundhouse kick to your ribs. You turn and take it on your guard, then answer with a jab-hook. She swats them away with her metal arm. [i]DINK! CLANG![/i] She clinches as you reset and drives four knees up at your body. You raise your own knee to block them.

"Good clinch work!" Chloe yells from your corner. You break the hold. A storm of body blows drives her back, and one lands on her ribs with a thud.

Stephanie backs off and snaps a front kick at your chest. You knock it aside with your glove and step in, jab stinging her nose, cross landing on her jaw before her arms come up. She stumbles back. You follow. She backflips out before you can trap her against the ropes. She bounces on the balls of her feet.

Twenty seconds left on the scoreboard. Stephanie turns side-on to you and blitzes you with punches from her metal arm.

*choice
    #Weave continuously beneath her punches.
        You drop into a crouch, head and shoulders moving in a continuous figure-eight. Stephanie's metal fist pistons past your ear. You roll under the next punch, and the next, gathering speed with every swing.

        Left, right, left, right, left...

        You come out of the weave with a hook that crunches into her cheek. She drops onto her backside before pushing herself upright.

    #Drop low, then explode into a leaping hook.
        You drop under the metal fist into a squat. Stephanie leans down for the next punch.

        You drive up with both legs, left hook coming with you. It slams into her jaw as your feet leave the ground. She drops onto her backside before pushing herself upright.

    #Drop your lead hand and flick jabs from below.
        You let your lead hand fall to your waist. The metal fist comes for your face. You slip outside it and flick a jab up from below. It snaps into her chin.

        Another metal fist. Slip, jab. Slip, jab. Your glove finds her cheek faster than she can reset.

        She breaks off the attack, takes two steps out of range, and shakes her head clear.

[i]DING DING DING![/i]

All twelve camera drones sound the bell in unison. It's deafening.

"ROUND ONE. HONG KONG'S SAVIOUR WINS!" Numbers appear on the scoreboard, broken down into health, time, technique, max combo, and five other categories. You ignore them.

*page_break
You walk back to your corner and sit down. Stephanie does the same. Katie hands you a squeeze bottle, "ELECTROLYTE DRINK" written on the masking tape over the brand name.

Eric has his eyes closed, palms held out in front of him. "Qi field is stable. I'll keep monitoring the situation."

Danny stands there, silent, while Chloe taps the translucent pink lens over her left eye. "Her power level is fluctuating around one thousand."

Coach Lam wipes your face with a towel. "Work the jab," he says.

In Stephanie's corner, a robot butler wipes her forehead, squeezes water into her mouth, then plugs a diagnostic cable into her metal arm. A light on the cable flashes green. The butler bows.

The hovercat flies back between you. The scoreboard resets to 99.

It beeps. "Round two. Fight!"

All twelve camera drones start playing electronic dance music. Something from Ibiza, you think.

*page_break
"I was only fighting at ten percent of my strength. Playtime is over. Now I'll show you my true power!"

A wave of pressure blasts from Stephanie, and you cover up. She's glowing, or vibrating, or something. When she's done, her silver hair is a foot longer and sparks with electricity, and the cyan lines on her bodysuit glow.

And also, she's flying. She's flying at you, horizontal, metal fist out in front. It hits you. In the face.

You fall over but kip straight back up. She lands, the air shimmering around her heels. Flames and exhaust shoot out from under the stilettos.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! As expected of Hong Kong's Saviour!"

She leaps, jets flaring, and kicks. You take it on your gloves, but the impact drives you back three metres, your boots skidding across the canvas. You bounce off the ropes and jog back towards her, right into the punches. Metal fist. Human fist. Metal. Human. Too fast to follow.

You block and dodge, but she punches more. You fall.

[i]DING DING DING![/i] The drones deafen you again.

"ROUND TWO. K.O. STEPHANIE WINS!"

*page_break
The round's over, so you get up and walk back to your corner. Stephanie's already sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, the robot butler attending to her.

Katie holds the bottle to your mouth. Eric's eyes snap open: "A massive qi spike centred around Stephanie. There's no doubt about it."

Chloe is holding the fragments of her shattered lens. "Her power level... it's... I don't know. It overloaded my machine."

Danny stands there, silent, and Coach Lam wipes your face with a towel. "Work the jab," he reminds you.

The hovercat flies back between you, and the scoreboard resets to 99. It beeps. "Final round. Fight!"

All twelve drones start playing bossa nova. You think it's a Cantonese cover of [i]The Girl from Ipanema[/i].

*choice
    #Use your full power instead of only ten percent.
        *set stats_screen "alternate_ending_2"
        "You thought you were the only one holding back? I was only using ten percent of my power too!"

You plant your feet wide and draw both fists down beside your hips, elbows bent. A jagged column of light erupts around you and blasts straight into the sky. The air smells of ozone. Stephanie's gone quiet.

You could check your tech-watch. You don't need to. Your stats have increased tenfold.

You dash in. Time slows. Afterimages trail behind you as you cross the ring, three of them, a nice dark blue this time. Both your arms are already swinging. Ribs. Cheek. Arm. Cheek.

Jab-cross-hook-cross. Each strike lands on a different pressure point. Her arms go limp.

A final jab catches her on the chin. An explosion on contact. Stephanie flies backwards and lands crumpled in the corner.

A green glow surrounds her as she rises. She comes at you with a flying punch. You teleport a foot away and she flies past. She flies back in and unloads. Everything thuds against your gloves and forearms. Nothing gets through your perfect fortress.

The last punch is a fraction slower. You punch her away before she even starts it.

She stands tall and spits on the ground. "You think that's enough to best me? Then behold... my ultimate power!"

*page_break
Stephanie floats up, one metre, two, three, ten. She raises both arms straight above her. A glowing purple ball of energy appears above her hands.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

The ball swells until it's ten metres wide. It keeps growing.

"I will split the earth. I will split the heavens!"

Eric shouts out, "Watch out! That's the Realm-Killing Divinity Cataclysm! The forbidden technique!"

"Ha ha ha ha! So at least one of you fools recognises true power!" Dust spirals up into a vortex beneath her.

"Prepare yourself!"

You keep your guard up.

The background music speeds up, and the pitch rises with it. You glance at the scoreboard. The round timer is ticking down: ten, nine, eight...

"... few have the privilege of witnessing this incredible move. And so..."

Seven.

"Your end has come."

Six. She draws her hands back.

"Have at you!"

*choice
    #Teleport up and freeze her with your [i]Seven Star Meridian-Severing Acupressure[/i].
        Before she can throw the death ball, you teleport to her. Colour drains from the world. Complete blackness, you and Stephanie in white silhouette, the energy ball a white sphere. You air-dash past her, tapping seven precise points on her body.

        Katie calls out, "Meridians aren't real!"

        Stephanie freezes up, and the energy ball blinks out of existence.

        "... never mind."

        Behind you, seven characters appear one by one in white calligraphy: 七星斷脈點穴手. The drones obligingly punctuate each one with a sound effect. Then the world returns to colour, and Stephanie slams into the ground.

        [i]DING DING DING![/i]

        "ROUND THREE. K.O. HONG KONG'S SAVIOUR WINS!"

    #Meet her energy sphere with your [i]Final Energy Tsunami[/i].
        You sink into a low stance. You draw both hands back near your right hip, palms cupped like they're holding water. A flicker of light appears between them. Then you pivot on your rear foot and drive forward in a single flowing thrust. Your hands snap open, revealing a golden beam of compressed light.

        "Final. Energy. TSUNAMI!"

        "Realm-Killing. Divinity. CATACLYSM!"

        Stephanie thrusts her energy ball forward at the same moment. It becomes a thick purple beam and crashes into yours. Golden and purple light flares at the point of contact. Sparks spit out in every direction. The air crackles.

        You pour more power into the beam. The collision point inches towards Stephanie. The timer ticks down to four.

        Sweat appears on her forehead. She pushes the beam back.

        "YAAAAAAAH!!"

        Three.

        The purple beam thickens. The collision point rushes towards you, now only a metre away.

        Eric yells, "I believe in you!"

        Two.

        Friendship is powerful. Therefore, strength surges into you. Your beam swells, driving the purple light backwards. All the way.

        One.

        An explosion engulfs her. She slams into the ground.

        [i]DING DING DING![/i]

        "ROUND THREE. K.O. HONG KONG'S SAVIOUR WINS!"

    #Remain completely still. Unleash your [i]Ultimate Nothingness[/i].
        You sit down cross-legged, hands on your knees, palms up. No one can see under the gloves, but the tips of your middle fingers are touching your thumbs.

        "Ultimate Nothingness." It's a whisper, but it carries across the whole arena.

        Stephanie hesitates. She watches you.

        "What are you doing?"

        You say nothing. You close your eyes.

        "Aw, crap."

        The energy ball blinks out of existence, and Stephanie teleports back to the ground. Your eyes are closed, so you can't see her dropping into a deep defensive stance, feet planted wide, elbows tucked, both arms crossed in front of her face.

        You don't see the translucent hexagonal shells forming around her, layer by layer: red, yellow, green, then luminous blue.

        You stay seated.

        She waits.

        You wait.

        Stephanie braces harder.

        You wait.

        She closes her eyes.

        [i]DING DING DING![/i]

        "ROUND THREE. TIME OVER. DRAW GAME!"

        You open your eyes and stand. Stephanie dismisses the defence matrix one layer at a time.

    #Hit her with your jab-cross.
        "When in doubt, jab."

        But you're not in doubt at all, so you go for the jab-cross. Your lead hand snaps straight from the shoulder. Chin tucked, elbow down, fist turning over at the last instant. The glove reaches full extension and returns along exactly the same line, to the atom.
        
        Your rear foot drives into the ground, hip and shoulder turning together, your whole body aligned behind the punch as your rear hand comes forward. Straight out. Straight back.

        Both punches go perfectly into the empty air in front of you.

        Metres above, compressed air from the jab snaps Stephanie's head back. Then the wave from the cross smashes into her jaw.

        She loses control of the energy ball.

        It explodes. She slams into the ground.

        [i]DING DING DING![/i]

        "ROUND THREE. K.O. HONG KONG'S SAVIOUR WINS!"

        "Good jab. Good cross." Coach Lam nods.

*page_break
You meet Stephanie in the middle of the ring. She extends her human hand and you shake it.

"Good match."

"Well fought."

The music has changed to a sentimental rock ballad. You step out of the ring and head towards the crumbling stadium exit. Eric, Katie, Danny, Chloe, and Coach Lam follow in a row behind you, their footsteps in sync. Your cape billows.

Back outside, the neon skyline gleams. Holographic advertisements for luxury flats pollute the skies. Driverless minibuses hiss along the wet asphalt. Rain splatters onto the pavement, shattering the blue-and-white neon of a PARKnSHOP sign into a thousand reflections.

You keep walking. Your tech-watch vibrates. Janet. Something about the Laneige account.

*page_break End scene.
*set stats_screen "start"
*return

*label glossary
*check_achievements
Which entries would you like to browse?

*choice
    #Food and drink.
        *goto glossary_food_and_drink
    #Places and transport.
        *goto glossary_places_and_transport
    #Language and expressions.
        *goto glossary_language_and_expressions
    #Everyday life.
        *goto glossary_everyday_life
    #Shops and institutions.
        *goto glossary_shops_and_institutions
    #Arts and entertainment.
        *goto glossary_arts_and_entertainment
    #Martial arts.
        *goto glossary_martial_arts
    #Science and academia.
        *goto glossary_science_and_academia
    #Go back to the bonus content screen.
        *return

*label glossary_food_and_drink
[b]Food and drink[/b]

[b]3-in-1 coffee sachets[/b] — A sachet containing a pre-made mix of instant coffee powder, creamer, and sugar, sufficient to make one cup of coffee. Common in office pantries where convenience is prioritised over quality.

[b]Afternoon tea set[/b] — A meal offered by [i]cha chaan tengs[/i] and fast-food restaurants in the afternoon, often from 2pm to 5pm, and cheaper than lunch or dinner sets.

[b]Baked tomato pork chop rice[/b] (焗豬扒飯) — A Hong Kong-style Western dish of egg fried rice topped with pork chops and tomato sauce, finished with cheese and baked.

[b]Bamboo pith[/b] (竹笙) — An edible fungus, not related to bamboo. Crunchy and soaks up broth very well, and is valued in fine Chinese dining.

[b]Blinis[/b] — Small savoury Russian pancakes, often served with a dollop of sour cream and topped with caviar.

[b]Café de Coral[/b] (大家樂) — A major Hong Kong fast-food chain, serving a mix of Cantonese dishes and Hong Kong-style Western dishes.

[b]Cha chaan teng[/b] (茶餐廳) — A Hong Kong café that serves a large assortment of Cantonese and Hong Kong-style Western dishes. Examples include corned beef and egg sandwiches, satay beef with instant noodles, Hong Kong-style milk tea, and macaroni with ham slivers in lukewarm diluted cream of chicken soup.

[b]Char siu[/b] (叉燒) — Cantonese-style barbecued pork with a sweet, savoury glaze. Strips of boneless pork are marinated and roasted, developing a caramelised exterior.

[b]Char siu bao[/b] (叉燒包) — A white, fluffy, steamed bun filled with chopped [i]char siu[/i] and a thick, sweet-savoury sauce.

*if (choice_achieved_chloe)
    [b]*Cheung fun[/b] (腸粉) — Steamed rice noodle rolls, wrapped around fillings such as beef, prawns, or [i]char siu[/i]. Served with soy sauce.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Chloe's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Choi sum[/b] (菜心) — A leafy vegetable with green stems, leaves, and small yellow flowers, usually blanched or stir-fried.

[b]Claypot rice[/b] (煲仔飯) — A Cantonese dish where raw rice is slow-cooked in a small earthenware pot over a flame with various savoury toppings. The rice at the bottom forms a crisp, browned crust, and is particularly prized.

[b]Curry fishballs[/b] (咖喱魚蛋) — A popular Hong Kong street food. Inch-wide fried fishballs made from fish paste are simmered in a Hong Kong-style curry sauce.

[b]Dace-stuffed peppers[/b] (釀青椒) — Dace is a freshwater carp with a mild taste. Minced dace meat is stuffed into green peppers and then pan-fried. Some kinds of peppers are really spicy, so you're supposed to scrape out the seeds and pith first.

[b]Dai pai dong[/b] (大牌檔) — An open-air food stall, known for selling affordable food cooked with [i]wok hei[/i]. An important part of Hong Kong's cultural heritage. The Hong Kong government has spent many decades phasing out [i]dai pai dongs[/i] through strict licensing bans and conditions, leaving only seventeen traditional outdoor stalls as of 2024.

*if (choice_achieved_chloe)
    [b]*Double-boiled egg white with coconut milk, snow swallow and taro balls in young coconut[/b] (椰皇燉蛋白雪燕芋圓) — A soft egg-white custard served inside a young coconut along with small, chewy taro balls, and snow swallow, a plant gum with a similar texture to edible bird's nest. Served warm. It's one of the more extravagant items on a dessert menu.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Chloe's storyline.)[/i]

[b]E-fu noodles[/b] (伊麵) — Cantonese egg noodles that are deep-fried. Usually braised or served with soup. They have a characteristic spongy texture.

[b]Ebeneezer's[/b] — A Middle Eastern and Indian restaurant chain in Hong Kong, known for kebabs.

[b]Ethnicans potato chips[/b] — A hot and spicy Calbee potato chips flavour. The packaging features colourful geometric tribal patterns.

[b]Fairwood[/b] (大快活) — A major Hong Kong fast-food chain, serving a mix of Cantonese dishes and Hong Kong-style Western dishes.

[b]Fish maw[/b] (花膠) — Dried swim bladder from a large fish, prized as a luxury ingredient for its texture and ability to absorb rich sauces. One of the "four treasures" of Cantonese cuisine, alongside abalone, sea cucumber, and shark fin, often served at banquets. As with shark fin, it's considered rude to ask why flavourless gelatin costs so much.

[b]Gai daan jai, egg waffles[/b] (雞蛋仔) — A street food made by cooking egg batter in a metal mould to produce a sheet of connected, rounded bubbles. The outside is crisp, and the centre is soft.

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Ginger-Scallion White Cut Chicken Potato Chips[/b] — A gimmick potato chip flavour, imitating the taste of white cut chicken: poached chicken served at room temperature along with an aromatic dipping oil infused with ginger and scallion.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Glutinous rice chicken[/b] (糯米雞) — Glutinous rice with chicken, mushrooms, [i]lap cheong[/i], salted egg yolk, and other ingredients, wrapped in a lotus leaf and steamed. A filling, classic dim sum item, also available as convenience store food.

*if (choice_achieved_chloe)
    [b]*Har gow[/b] (蝦餃) — Steamed prawn dumplings with a thin, translucent wrapping.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Chloe's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Herbal tea, five-flower tea, kudzu root tea, 24-herb tea[/b] (涼茶、五花茶、葛根茶、廿四味) — Various drinks served at herbal tea shops. Five-flower tea is mild and sweet, kudzu root tea is slightly salty, 24-herb tea is extremely bitter. In traditional Chinese medicine, different teas are believed to have different health effects.

[b]Hong Kong-style barbecue[/b] — A social event where a group of friends or acquaintances gather over an open barbecue pit and hold food over the charcoal with long barbecue forks or skewers. The foods involved are an acquired taste; for example, it is common to slather cheap honey onto white bread, skewer it, and then roast it until it is partly charred. They even brush honey onto skewered sausages and the sausages can dry out from the cooking and split. Try at your own risk.

[b]Hong Kong-style milk tea[/b] (港式奶茶) — Hong Kong milk tea is made with a strong tea base, often Ceylon, and evaporated milk, resulting in a very strong drink. Served hot or iced, with sugar.

[b]Horlicks[/b] (好立克) — A brand of malted milk drink made from powder. It can be served hot or cold.

[b]Hotpot[/b] — A meal where a pot of simmering broth is provided to diners along with raw food, and the diner has to cook it themselves. Usually "enjoyed" as a group activity.

[b]Iced lemon coffee[/b] (凍檸啡) — Chilled black coffee served over ice, along with a few lemon slices. The victim is intended to mash the lemon slices, resulting in a bitter and sour mixture. Sugar syrup optional.

[b]Iced lemon tea[/b] (凍檸茶) — Chilled tea served over ice, along with a few lemon slices. The diner is intended to mash the lemon slices, resulting in a tart drink. Sugar syrup often included. Hot lemon tea also exists.

[b]Jollibee, Chickenjoy[/b] — Jollibee is the largest fast-food restaurant chain in the Philippines. Chickenjoy is its signature fried chicken. Honestly it's really good.

[b]Lap cheong[/b] (臘腸) — A sweet, cured, and dried Chinese pork sausage. Often sliced thinly and steamed directly on rice, so that the oils seep into the rice.

[b]Lemon Ribena[/b] (檸檬利賓納) — Ribena is a sweet blackcurrant drink. Lemon Ribena is served with lemon slices, generally iced.

[b]Malt Vitasoy[/b] — A malted soy milk drink, usually sold in 250ml paper cartons.

[b]Matcha jelly[/b] — A relatively firm, slightly sweetened jelly (jello in American English) made with powdered green tea. A high-quality jelly should be intense without being excessively bitter.

[b]Milo[/b] — A chocolate-flavoured malted drink. It is bought as a powder and mixed with milk or water and can be enjoyed hot or cold.

[b]Municipal cooked food centre[/b] (熟食中心) — An indoor collection of independently operated food stalls in a municipal building. Stalls generally sell affordable comfort food.

[b]Palabok, kare-kare, nasi bungkus, gado-gado[/b] — Filipino and Indonesian foods. Palabok is a Filipino noodle dish, kare-kare is a Filipino oxtail stew made with a rich peanut sauce, nasi bungkus is an Indonesian dish of rice and accompaniments wrapped in a banana leaf, and gado-gado is an Indonesian salad with peanut sauce. Filipino and Indonesian workers account for almost all of Hong Kong's foreign domestic helpers.

[b]Petits fours[/b] — Bite-sized desserts. In a Cantonese banquet, they are usually small Chinese pastries or other sweets served at the end of the meal.

[b]Pineapple bun[/b] (菠蘿包) — A bread roll topped with a golden cookie crust. It does not contain any pineapple.

[b]Poon choi[/b] (盆菜) — Literally "basin dish", it is a traditional communal meal associated with New Territories villages. A large metal basin is carefully layered with different kinds of cooked meat, seafood and vegetables, then gravy or sauce is poured in.

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Premium Japanese fruit[/b] — Expensive Japanese fruits, such as Yubari King Melon, Shine Muscat grapes, or premium white strawberries, are often sold as luxury gifts.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

[b]QQ[/b] — A Taiwanese term for a chewy and springy texture, most famous in the tapioca balls in bubble tea.

[b]Red bean soup[/b] (紅豆沙) — A Chinese dessert soup made by simmering adzuki beans with water, sugar, dried tangerine peel and lotus seeds.

[b]Roasted suckling pig[/b] (燒乳豬) — A banquet dish of a crispy-skinned suckling pig. The suckling pig's head is decorated with plastic red bulbs or glacé cherries for the eyes.

[b]Sakura shrimp[/b] — Tiny shrimp, a few centimetres long, often sold dried and eaten with the shell.

[b]Sambal[/b] — A chilli-based paste used in Indonesian cuisine.

[b]Shogayaki[/b] — Thin slices of pork pan-fried in a sauce of grated ginger, soy sauce and mirin. A popular Japanese pork preparation.

[b]Siu mai[/b] (燒賣) — A traditional dumpling made of ground pork. The street food version is instead made with low-grade fish paste.

[b]Siu yeh[/b] (宵夜) — A late-night meal or snack.

[b]Small-boat congee, sampan congee[/b] (艇仔粥) — A Cantonese rice porridge, originating in Guangzhou, made with a mix of seafood, meat, peanuts, and other toppings. Traditionally, the congee was sold from small sampan boats.

[b]Tohato caramel corn[/b] — A popular Japanese snack of corn puffs glazed with caramel.

[b]Tonkatsu sauce[/b] — A thick, sweet Japanese sauce traditionally served with deep-fried pork cutlets.

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Tsui Wah BBQ Pork Rice Potato Chips[/b] — A potato chip flavour, imitating the taste of [i]char siu[/i].
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Turtle jelly[/b] (龜苓膏) — A dark, bitter Chinese herbal jelly (jello in American English) traditionally made with turtle shell and medicinal herbs. Some modern versions no longer contain turtle shell. It is usually served with honey or sugar syrup to offset the bitterness.

[b]Two-dish rice[/b] (兩餸飯) — A no-frills Hong Kong takeaway meal. The budget-conscious diner is given a large serving of white rice, and can choose two pre-cooked side dishes from a large array of trays.

[b]Vita lemon tea[/b] — A 250ml drink carton of lemon tea. It is intended to be drunk chilled, with the provided straw.

[b]Watsons water[/b] — A brand of bottled water, supplied in large bottles for office water dispensers. Vita is the other popular supplier.

[b]Wok hei[/b] (鑊氣) — The smoky, charred flavour and aromas in stir-fried food when cooked in a wok over an open flame. The intense flame can usually only be produced in commercial kitchens.

[b]Wonton noodles[/b] (雲吞麵) — A traditional Cantonese noodle dish made with egg noodles and small prawn-and-pork dumplings in a clear broth.

*if (choice_achieved_chloe)
    [b]*Xiao long bao, eight flavours[/b] (小籠包) — Shanghainese soup dumplings served with minced pork and broth inside. Paradise Dynasty, a chain restaurant, offers a version with eight different flavours: original, ginseng, foie gras, truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic, Szechuan. Most of them are no good.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Chloe's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Yeung Chow fried rice[/b] (揚州炒飯) — A simple fried rice dish of egg, mixed vegetables, pork, and shrimp.

[b]Yum cha[/b] (飲茶) — A social meal of dim sum and tea, expected to be a slow-paced affair. A common occasion for family gatherings.

[b]Yun cheong[/b] (膶腸) — Similar to [i]lap cheong[/i], but with duck liver included, adding earthy offal notes. More of an acquired taste.

[b]Yunnan rice noodles[/b] (雲南米線) — Rounded rice noodles served in a clear or spicy broth with toppings of the diner's choice. Common toppings include fishballs, tofu skin, bean sprouts, ham, and similar affordable items.

[i]* Achievement-unlocked entry.[/i]

*goto glossary

*label glossary_places_and_transport
[b]Places and transport[/b]

[b]Alphard[/b] — A Toyota luxury seven-seater car. In the popular imagination, they are driven by chauffeurs who treat road rules as optional.

[b]Ding uk[/b] (丁屋) — A village house built under the New Territories Small House Policy. Eligible male indigenous villagers may apply to build a house of up to three storeys.


[b]HSBC bronze lions[/b] — Stephen and Stitt, two bronze lion statues, stand guard outside the HSBC's headquarters in Central. They are well-known Hong Kong landmarks. People traditionally rub their paws for good luck.

[b]ICC[/b] — The International Commerce Centre, a skyscraper in West Kowloon containing luxury offices and the Ritz-Carlton hotel. It is located immediately above the Kowloon station and is connected to the Elements shopping mall.

[b]Island Beverley, Laforet[/b] — Multi-level shopping arcades in Causeway Bay, known for small independent boutiques selling fashion and accessories. Island Beverley also contains several floors of restaurants.

[b]Kowloon Park[/b] (九龍公園) — A large public park amidst the dense buildings of Tsim Sha Tsui. It contains multiple gardens, recreational areas, and sports facilities.

[b]Lan Kwai Fong[/b] (蘭桂坊) — A nightlife district in Central, home to many bars, clubs, and restaurants.

[b]Minibus[/b] — Hong Kong has green and red minibuses; green minibuses travel prescribed routes with fixed fares, while red minibuses have flexible routes and fares. Green minibuses are not associated with organised crime. Minibuses seat up to nineteen passengers.

[b]MTR[/b] (港鐵) — Mass Transit Railway. Hong Kong's principal railway network.

[b]Octopus card[/b] (八達通) — A contactless smart card used for transport and retail transactions in Hong Kong. It was state-of-the-art when it was launched in 1997.

*if (choice_achieved_eric)
    [b]*Shunde[/b] (順德) — A district in the city of Foshan, Guangdong. Shunde is one of the cradles of Cantonese cuisine. Famous dishes include double-skin milk (雙皮奶), roasted pigeon (紅燒乳鴿), and Chencun rice noodles (陳村粉).
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Eric's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Star Ferry[/b] (天星小輪) — A passenger ferry service between Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side and Central and Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island. It has an open-air upper deck offering views of Victoria Harbour.

[b]Tai Tong Organic EcoWorld[/b] — A fictional outdoor recreational park in Tai Tong, Yuen Long. It offers fish ponds, animal enclosures, pedal carts, and other family attractions. It is loosely based on the real-world Tai Tong Organic EcoPark.

[b]Tong lau[/b] (唐樓) — An older style of urban tenement building, typically with a shop at street level and homes above, usually without lifts. They often have balconies that overhang the pavement.

[b]World Trade Centre, wwwtc mall[/b] — World Trade Centre is a commercial building in Causeway Bay. It contains a fourteen-storey shopping arcade, wwwtc mall, with upmarket shops and restaurants.

[i]* Achievement-unlocked entry.[/i]

*goto glossary

*label glossary_language_and_expressions
[b]Language and expressions[/b]

[b]Aiya[/b] (哎呀) — A flexible interjection, meaning anything from "oops" or "that's not good" to "oh well". The precise meaning depends on context and tone.

[b]Aunties and Uncles[/b] — "Auntie" and "Uncle" are common forms of address for middle-aged women and men, whether or not they are relatives.

[b]Body check[/b] — A term used in Hong Kong English for a preventive health screening.

[b]Cantonese, putonghua[/b] — Cantonese is the main spoken Chinese used in Hong Kong, Macau, and much of Guangdong province. Putonghua is the standard form of Mandarin used in mainland China. They are mutually unintelligible. Standard written Chinese can be read by speakers of either.

[b]Diu[/b] (屌) — A Cantonese word meaning "fuck". It is just as all-purpose.

[b]"Give face"[/b] — To show respect or consideration, particularly by avoiding embarrassing someone or challenging them publicly. In the context of a police visit, giving face means making a visible gesture of deference, even when the police have not asked for it.

[b]Happy Hong Kong, Day x Night Vibes @ 18 Districts, A New Era – Stability . Prosperity . Opportunity[/b] — These are names and slogans for various government campaigns in the early 2020s. Banners are strung up on lampposts and railings, sometimes remaining until the next government campaign rolls around.

[b]Health centre[/b] — A health centre can refer to a massage parlour, foot reflexology provider, or similar establishment. Depending on the establishment and context, it may imply that sexual services are also offered.

[b]Heatiness[/b] (熱氣) — A traditional Chinese health concept; the body has accumulated too much internal "heat". This leads to symptoms such as sore throats, mouth ulcers, acne, and constipation. It is popularly blamed on causes such as fried food, lack of sleep, and stress. Not related to temperature.

*if (choice_achieved_danny)
    [b]*Incitement to incite public nuisance[/b] (煽惑他人煽惑公眾妨擾) — A common-law offence in Hong Kong. Incitement means urging someone to commit a crime; incitement to incite public nuisance means urging someone to urge other people to cause a public nuisance. It has resulted in convictions and jail sentences. At the time of writing, there have been no reported charges of incitement to incite another person to incite public nuisance.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Danny's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Invited for tea[/b] — A euphemism for being informally summoned for a meeting with the police. A choice of tea or coffee is provided.

[b]Le Coq Magnifique[/b] — French for "the magnificent rooster".

[b]"Mainland", mainland tourists[/b] (內地) — In Hong Kong, "Mainland" refers to mainland China, excluding Hong Kong. Mainland residents require a travel permit and endorsement to visit Hong Kong.

[b]Mise en place[/b] — A French term meaning "putting in place", describing the practice of organising necessary ingredients and equipment before starting to cook.

[b]Name card[/b] — A term used in Hong Kong English for a business card.

[b]Shopping arcade[/b] — A building or complex containing a number of shops, similar to a shopping centre. Not an amusement arcade, which contains coin-operated games.

[b]Sifu[/b] (師父) — A Cantonese form of address for a martial arts teacher. The characters mean "master" and "father". Traditionally, the teacher is expected to guide the student not only in martial arts, but also in life and philosophy.

[b]Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese[/b] (簡體字, 繁體字) — Traditional Chinese characters are the written script used in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Simplified Chinese characters are used in mainland China. In Hong Kong, signs in Simplified Chinese are often aimed at visitors from the Mainland.

*if (choice_achieved_danny)
    [b]*Stability maintenance[/b] (維穩) — A Chinese political term for state efforts to preserve social order and prevent unrest. Methods include surveillance, policing, censorship, and other measures to suppress protests and challenges to Communist Party rule.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Danny's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Subway[/b] — An underground pedestrian passage for crossing major roads. The urban railway system is called the MTR.

[b]"The island"[/b] — Refers to Hong Kong Island, as distinguished from the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, and Lantau.

[b]"Warm reminder"[/b] — A formulaic expression used in notices and business messages, roughly meaning "please note".

[b]Yau lok![/b] (有落) — "I want to get off." Minibuses only stop to let people off if someone calls out.

[i]* Achievement-unlocked entry.[/i]

*goto glossary

*label glossary_everyday_life
[b]Everyday life[/b]

[b]1 July[/b] — 1 July is Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day, marking the 1997 handover from British to Chinese sovereignty. It is a public holiday.

[b]Balikbayan box[/b] — A large cardboard box filled with food, toiletries, clothes and other gifts, shipped by overseas Filipinos to their families in the Philippines.

[b]Company dinner[/b] — Many companies host annual dinners around December or Lunar New Year for team-building purposes. These can last several hours and are similar in format to a wedding banquet, with speeches, raffles, live music, and other forms of organised entertainment.

[b]Contraband plastic straws[/b] — From April 2024, Hong Kong businesses were banned from selling plastic straws or providing them to diners. Possessing or owning plastic straws is not illegal.

[b]CPA[/b] — Certified Public Accountant.

[b]CPT hours[/b] — Continuous Professional Training hours, a form of ongoing training required of certain licensed or registered financial-services professionals. Not a general requirement for office workers.

[b]Dollars[/b] — Dollar amounts in the game are stated as Hong Kong dollars. The Hong Kong dollar is linked to the US dollar at roughly HK$7.8 = US$1.

[b]Elderly cardboard collector[/b] — Some older people supplement their income by scavenging discarded cardboard, stacking it onto handcarts, and selling it to recycling depots. In one 2022 profile, a 77-year-old collector earned HK$20 (US$2.56) on a good night. She received HK$0.8 per kilo of cardboard.

[b]EV, FRT waiver[/b] — EV means electric vehicle. FRT is First Registration Tax, a one-time tax charged upon first registration of a vehicle in Hong Kong. Electric private cars enjoyed tax concessions, but the amounts were reduced in April 2024.

[b]Filial piety[/b] — The duty to respect and care for one's parents and elders.

[b]Floral tribute boards, auspicious couplets[/b] — Festival decorations. Floral tribute boards are large, colourful decorative structures built on bamboo frames. Auspicious couplets are paired lines of Chinese writing that convey blessings, praise, or good wishes.

[b]Former industrial buildings[/b] — After the 1980s, most of Hong Kong's manufacturing moved to Mainland China, and factory buildings have since been repurposed for offices, studios, gyms, restaurants, and other businesses.

[b]FPS[/b] — The Faster Payment System, allowing near-instant transfers between Hong Kong bank accounts.

[b]Gold pig-and-piglets necklace[/b] — A necklace featuring a large, fat pig with smaller hanging piglets. Gold jewellery is a traditional wedding gift to the bride. The pig-and-piglets motif symbolises fertility and the wish for many descendants.

[b]Hakka dwelling[/b] — A home built by Hakka communities, which were historically one of the major rural populations of the New Territories. Traditional Hakka dwellings often use brick walls and tiled roofs.

[b]Hau Wong festival, "Marquis Prince"[/b] (侯王) — Marquis Prince refers to Hau Wong, a deity worshipped in southern China, traditionally identified as Yeung Leung-jit, protector of the last Southern Song emperors. The festival honours his birthday. 

[b]Hell banknotes[/b] (陰司紙) — Imitation banknotes burned as offerings for the dead to use in the afterlife. They are often denominated in the billions or trillions. See [i]Paper offerings[/i].

[b]Hungry Ghost Festival, Hungry Ghost month[/b] — The seventh lunar month, usually falling around August, is believed to be a time when the gates of the underworld open and spirits visit the living. The Hungry Ghost Festival, usually observed on the fourteenth or fifteenth of this month, involves making offerings to ancestors and wandering spirits. It is considered to be an inauspicious month, and some observers avoid certain activities, such as getting married, moving house, or swimming. 

[b]Love hotel[/b] — A hotel that rents rooms by the hour for couples seeking privacy. Many young adults live with their parents or extended family, with little privacy at home.

[b]Monsoon surge[/b] — A sudden strengthening of the monsoon can produce strong winds over the sea, stirring up rough waves even when the immediate skies are clear.

[b]Paper offerings[/b] — Paper models of houses, vehicles, or other possessions are burned during funerals, ancestor worship rituals, or religious observances. The idea is that, for example, burning a paper PlayStation on earth will make it available to the deceased in the afterlife.

[b]PEP list[/b] — A Politically Exposed Person is someone who holds or has held a prominent public position, or close family members and associates of such a person. PEPs may be subject to additional compliance checks.

[b]Podium deck; residents' clubhouse; function room[/b] — Many Hong Kong housing estates consist of several residential towers built above a shared podium containing facilities such as shops or car parks. The top of the podium — the deck — often contains playgrounds, swimming pools, gardens, and similar amenities. A residents' clubhouse is a shared recreational facility, typically containing gyms, sports rooms, and lounges. A function room is a multipurpose room within the clubhouse, usually booked for parties or meetings.

[b]Sitting-out area[/b] — A small public outdoor resting area that usually contains a few benches and sometimes basic exercise equipment, a few planters, or a small open space.

[b]Sunday gatherings in Central[/b] — Central is the financial district, but on Sundays, many migrant domestic workers gather there on their weekly rest day. The workers often create a makeshift sitting place by laying out cardboard on the ground, meeting friends, eating, and spending time together.

[b]Toddler school interviews[/b] — In Hong Kong, admission to sought-after kindergartens is competitive and can involve interviews and portfolios. Portfolios can include photographs, certificates, records of prizes, and activity attendance records. These provide evidence of the toddler's proactiveness, diligence, and long-term planning ability. To improve their child's chances of admission to a Christian schools, some parents change their religion before applying.

[b]VLOOKUP; INDEX MATCH[/b] — VLOOKUP is an Excel spreadsheet formula for looking up a value in a table. INDEX MATCH is the superior way to do that. The more recent XLOOKUP, unknown to the protagonist, is better still.

*goto glossary

*label glossary_shops_and_institutions
[b]Shops and institutions[/b]

[b]ANTI SOCIAL SOCIAL CLUB[/b] — A streetwear brand. Some fashion commentary describes the brand as passé.

[b]Baguio[/b] — The name "Baguio" on the janitor's vest refers to Baguio Green Group, a Hong Kong-listed company providing commercial and public-sector cleaning services.

[b]Citistore[/b] — A Hong Kong department store chain with a branch in Yuen Long.

[b]Citysuper[/b] — Officially styled city'super, an upmarket supermarket specialising in imported and premium food.

*if (choice_achieved_chloe)
    [b]*DCH[/b] (大昌行) — Dah Chong Hong, a Hong Kong group involved in food distribution and logistics.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Chloe's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Don Don Donki[/b] — A Japanese discount retail chain. It uses loud music and crowded displays to overwhelm and confuse shoppers, which encourages them to make impulse purchases.

[b]FANCL[/b] — A Japanese cosmetics brand.

[b]Feiyue[/b] — A Chinese brand of lightweight canvas shoes with rubber soles. Popular among freerunners and parkour enthusiasts.

[b]Heung Yee Kuk[/b] (鄉議局) — An advisory body representing rural interests in the New Territories, particularly those of indigenous villagers. The [i]Hong Kong Free Press[/i] claimed, "Heung Yee Kuk is a mafia-like organisation that rules the New Territories like its own private fiefdom," but in the opinion section, not the news section.

[b]HK01[/b] — A Hong Kong digital news outlet.

[b]HKU[/b] (港大) — The University of Hong Kong. One of Hong Kong's oldest and most prestigious universities.

[b]Jockey Club[/b] (馬會) — The Hong Kong Jockey Club is the monopoly that operates horse racing, sports betting, and the lottery. It is a non-profit and is one of Hong Kong's largest charitable organisations.

[b]Jumpin Gym U.S.A.[/b] — A Hong Kong chain of indoor amusement centres with games that award tickets redeemable for prizes. It has no locations in the United States and its founders are not from the United States.

[b]Luk Fook[/b] (六福) — A Hong Kong jewellery retailer.

[b]Mannings[/b] — A health and beauty retail chain.

[b]Midland, Centaline[/b] — Two major property agencies in Hong Kong.

[b]NUS[/b] — The National University of Singapore, Singapore's flagship university.

[b]Poly University, PolyU[/b] (理大) — The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Its campus is in Hung Hom, just beside the Cross Harbour Tunnel.

[b]Rimowa[/b] — A high-end German luggage manufacturer of luggage marketed as durable.

[b]Tamjai[/b] — A brand name for two chains of Yunnan-style rice noodle restaurants, TamJai SamGor Mixian and TamJai Yunnan Mixian. They serve similar food.

[b]Tiger Balm[/b] (虎標萬金油) — A popular balm used to relieve muscle stiffness and joint pain. It smells strongly of camphor, menthol, and various herbal oils.

[b]U-Banquet[/b] — A chain of restaurants specialising in banquets, where patrons sit at large round tables and are served successive courses of shared dishes. At the time of writing, it has been rebranded as The Starview.

[b]Upper House[/b] — A luxury boutique hotel in Admiralty. It is very fancy.

[b]Wet market[/b] (街市) — A market with stalls selling fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, fish and other food. Live seafood is also often sold.

[b]York International, Victoria[/b] — Premium and highly selective kindergartens. Some Hong Kong parents believe that getting into an exclusive kindergarten is vital for their child's future.

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*YUU, Wellcome[/b] — Wellcome is a Hong Kong supermarket chain. YUU is a shopping rewards programme used there. Its advertising jingle, also played in stores, is a Cantonese adaptation of "Uptown Girl". Many people have strong opinions on this.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

*goto glossary

*label glossary_arts_and_entertainment
[b]Arts and entertainment[/b]

[b]"Adaptation, not imitation", "Be like water"[/b] — References to Bruce Lee's martial arts philosophy. "Be water" is one of his famous phrases, and "adaptation, not imitation" summarises his emphasis on flexibility.

[b]Bamboo opera stage, bamboo theatre[/b] — A temporary structure built from bamboo scaffolding to host Cantonese opera performances. They can accommodate anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand spectators. They are traditionally erected for religious festivals.

*if (choice_achieved_chloe)
    [b]*Banana boat[/b] — A long inflatable boat, usually yellow and banana-shaped, that multiple riders can sit on. It is towed by a speedboat, and the speedboat swerves at high speed so that riders fall off. Some riders enjoy the resulting concussions.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Chloe's storyline.)[/i]

*if (choice_achieved_danny)
    [b]*Beyond[/b] — Beyond was a successful and influential Hong Kong rock band formed in 1983. It stood out for its songs dealing with social issues, freedom, and idealism.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Danny's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Bishi Bashi Champ[/b] — A fast-paced and chaotic arcade game where players compete in short minigames by smashing red, green, and blue buttons in accordance with screen instructions.

[b]Bruce Lee[/b] (李小龍) — A martial artist and movie star who developed Jeet Kune Do. One of his iconic images is the yellow tracksuit with black stripes that he wore in [i]Game of Death[/i].

[b]Cantopop[/b] — Pop music sung in Cantonese. It had its heyday during the 1980s and 1990s.

[b]Claw-machine parlour[/b] — A claw machine is a type of arcade game: a glass-sided upright cabinet with a metal claw. The player controls the claw with a joystick and tries to grab a prize and carry it to the chute. Inevitably, the claw loosens and the prize fails to make it to the chute. Claw-machine parlours are popular because they are cheap to run and can operate without staff on-site.

[b]Dama, dama dance[/b] (大媽 / 大媽舞) — The literal meaning of [i]dama[/i] is "auntie", but it is also used disparagingly to refer to middle-aged or older women from Mainland China. [i]Dama dance[/i] refers to group dancing in parks and public squares. The dancers are sometimes criticised for playing loud music and monopolising public space.

[b]Eighteen bronze men[/b] (十八銅人) — A reference to the classic kung fu film [i]The 18 Bronzemen[/i] 《少林寺十八銅人》. In the film, the student must pass a gauntlet of gruelling physical tests, including a fight against eighteen men with bronze-painted bodies.

*if (choice_achieved_danny)
    [b]*Glorious Years / 《光輝歲月》[/b] — Glorious Years is one of Beyond's best-known songs. It was written by the lead singer, Wong Ka Kui, after Nelson Mandela was released from prison. The song concerns Mandela's struggle against apartheid and deals with racial equality, freedom, and political change.

    [b]*《不再猶豫》[/b] — Translated as "No More Hesitation", this is another Beyond song about pursuing one's ideals despite setbacks and uncertainty.

    [b]*《半斤八兩》[/b] — A famous song by Cantopop icon Sam Hui. The song describes workers who are overworked, underpaid, and bullied by their bosses.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Danny's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Jazzercise[/b] — A dance fitness program that was a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s. It is still popular, but the leotards and leg warmers associated with its 1980s image have mostly disappeared.

[b]Journey to the West[/b] — One of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, about a monk travelling from China to India along with a magical monkey and other companions. It has been adapted many times for TV, film, and other media.

*if (choice_achieved_danny)
    [b]*Legend of the Condor Heroes[/b] 《射鵰英雄傳》 — A 1957 wuxia novel by Jin Yong. It is the first part of his Condor Trilogy and one of his most famous works.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Danny's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Mahjong parlour[/b] — A licensed gambling establishment where customers play mahjong for money. This is distinct from private social games with friends and acquaintances.

[b]Super Famicom[/b] — Nintendo's Japanese version of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

[i]* Achievement-unlocked entry.[/i]

*goto glossary

*label glossary_martial_arts
[b]Martial arts[/b]

[b]Cornerman, working a corner[/b] — A cornerman works the corner by giving tactical advice, providing water, and checking the fighter's condition between rounds. Usually a coach or trainer.

[b]Dojo[/b] — A Japanese term for a room used for practising martial arts. It can also refer to the martial arts school or club that trains there.

[b]Feint, telegraphing[/b] — A feint is a deceptive action used to bait a reaction from an opponent, for example, pretending to advance in order to get the opponent to jab. Telegraphing means unintentionally giving away an action before doing it, for example, pulling back the arm before punching.

[b]Fist-and-palm salute[/b] (抱拳) — A traditional Chinese martial arts salute. The saluter makes a fist with their right hand and pushes it into the open palm of their left hand, at chest level. It is commonly used between martial artists to show respect.

[b]Focus mitts, hand wraps, heavy bag, pad work[/b] — Boxing paraphernalia. Focus mitts are small padded targets held by a coach or training partner to practise punches. Hand wraps are strips of cloth wrapped around the hands and wrists for protection. A heavy bag is a large, weighted punching bag. Pad work involves striking pads held by a coach or training partner.

[b]Gi[/b] — The traditional karate uniform, consisting of a jacket, trousers, and belt. It is usually white. Red would be an unusual choice of colour and more appropriate for a video game. The belt colour reflects the wearer's experience, with most grading systems using black as the highest category.

[b]Horse Stance[/b] — A low, wide martial arts stance with the knees bent. Exact foot placement and width varies by style. It provides a stable base at the expense of mobility.

[b]Ichigeki[/b] (一撃) — A Japanese term meaning "a single blow", associated with Kyokushin karate. The ideal is to defeat the opponent with a single decisive strike.

[b]Jeet Kune Do[/b] (截拳道) — Translated as "Way of the Intercepting Fist", Jeet Kune Do was developed by Bruce Lee and is based on principles of simplicity, directness, interception, and adaptability. Practitioners are encouraged to adapt instead of relying on static forms.

[b]Kata[/b] — A [i]kata[/i] is a karate form: a prearranged sequence of techniques performed in an open space, without an opponent.

[b]Kiai[/b] — A [i]kiai[/i] is a shout made by a karateka when performing a technique.

[b]MMA gloves[/b] — Mixed Martial Arts gloves are fingerless gloves designed to allow both striking and grappling. They are smaller and less padded than boxing gloves.

[b]Muay Thai[/b] — The national sport of Thailand, it is a striking martial art that uses punches, kicks, elbows, and knees. 

[b]Orthodox, southpaw[/b] — Orthodox boxing stance places the left foot in front with the left hand as the lead hand. Southpaw has the right foot in front and the right hand as the lead hand, and is often used by left-handed boxers. The majority of boxers use orthodox stance.

[b]Punch numbers, numbered combinations[/b] — A common boxing system numbers punches as follows: one is the jab, two the cross, three the lead hook, four the rear hook, five the lead uppercut, and six the rear uppercut. Thus, one-two-three indicates jab-cross-lead hook, and one-two-five would be jab-cross-lead uppercut.

[b]Qi, cultivation, qi therapy[/b] (氣) — Qi is the traditional Chinese concept of a vital energy or life force. Cultivation refers to practices intended to develop or control one's qi. Qi therapy claims to improve health by aligning the qi. In real life, qi cannot be used to throw energy waves or flaming uppercuts.

[b]Roadwork[/b] — Running done for cardiovascular training. It often involves longer runs as well as sprints.

[b]Sensei, oss[/b] — Sensei is a Japanese term used to address a teacher. Oss is an expression used in some karate schools as a greeting or acknowledgement.

[b]Shadowboxing[/b] — Practising punching and footwork, against an imaginary opponent, without hitting a bag or another person.

[b]Shotokan karate[/b] — A Japanese martial art that emphasises powerful linear attacks supported by deep stances.

[b]Straight blast[/b] — A Wing Chun or Jeet Kune Do technique: a continuous barrage of vertical punches — the fist held vertical, unlike in boxing where the fist turns to horizontal upon impact. It is delivered straight down the centreline and intended to overwhelm an opponent.

[b]Tai chi[/b] (太極) — A Chinese martial art that emphasises slow, circular, and graceful movements. Today it is commonly practised as a low-impact exercise, and is popular with the elderly.

[b]Teep[/b] — A Muay Thai front push kick. The practitioner raises their knee and thrusts their foot forward, usually to push an opponent back and control distance.

[b]Wushu[/b] (武術) — Literally translates as "martial arts". It is a catch-all term for Chinese martial arts including kung fu, tai chi, and weapon arts. In English, [i]wushu[/i] can also refer to the modern competitive sport.

*goto glossary

*label glossary_science_and_academia
[b]Science and academia[/b]

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Blinding, randomisation[/b] — Blinding means withholding information about whether an intervention is active or sham, so that expectations do not bias the outcome. Randomisation means assigning trials in an unpredictable order. Katie's demonstration for the professors is unblinded, but her study uses randomised active and sham trials.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Dissociation, peripheral neuropathy[/b] — In Katie's usage, dissociation describes the sensation that the limb is still there, but does not feel fully like part of the body. Peripheral neuropathy is dysfunction or damage affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Katie interprets the effect of her device as altered body ownership; the professors question whether the responses could instead reflect peripheral nerve dysfunction.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Institutional Review Board (IRB)[/b] — A committee that reviews research involving human participants to protect their rights, safety, and well-being. Katie's research is reviewed by the HKU/HA Hong Kong West Cluster IRB, which can require changes before allowing a study to proceed.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Kinesiology[/b] — The study of human movement and physical activity.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Master of Philosophy (MPhil)[/b] — Katie is completing a research postgraduate degree in Public Health, based primarily on supervised research and a thesis. The degree is not about philosophy.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Proof of concept, replication[/b] — A proof of concept is a preliminary study intended to show that an idea is plausible enough to merit further investigation. Replication involves repeating a study to see whether its results can be reproduced.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Proprioception, neural adaptation[/b] — Proprioception is the body's awareness of its position and the movement of its limbs, without looking at them. Neural adaptation refers to a reduction in how strongly neurons respond after repeated stimulation.

*if (choice_achieved_katie)
    [b]*Thesis defence, pre-submission review[/b] — A thesis is the research document submitted as part of Katie's degree. After submission, the thesis defence follows, in which examiners orally question the candidate about the thesis and research. Katie's pre-submission review is an earlier internal assessment; in her case, passing it allows her thesis to proceed to the final examination.
*else
    [i](Entry unlocks upon completion of Katie's storyline.)[/i]

[b]Transient motor inhibition[/b] — A temporary suppression of motor activity, in which the nervous system reduces or prevents a movement that is physically possible.

[i]* Achievement-unlocked entry.[/i]

*goto glossary


